Foot-actuated lantern.



PATENTED MAR. 26

F. 0. LYON. FOOT AGTUATBD LANTERN.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 12. 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 848,184. PATENTED MAR. 26, 1907. F.G.LYON.

FOOT AUTUATED LANTERN. APPL'IG'ATION FILED MAR. 12. 1906.

sHEBTssHEBT 2.

@OOCDO UNITED STATES l AlTENT OFFICE;

FRED C. LYON, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

FOCT ACTUATED LANTERN.

To all whom it "may concern Be it knownthat I, FRED C. LYON, a citil zen of the United. States, residing at Evans I ton, in the county of Cook and State of 1111- nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot'Actuated Lanterns, of which the following is specification.

My invention relates to headlights or search-lights for automobiles or other vehicles, and concerns particularly such lanterns as are movable laterally by the foot of the operator or chauffeur of the vehicle.

In turning corners it is advantageous to be able to direct the lam ps rays around the cor I rounded by an outer casing, which near its upper end has a pivotal connection with a support fixed to the dashboard or other tion of the vehicle, While the lower end 0 the casing is supported on a horizontal shaft having a gear connection with the upright shaft, and which also has a trcadle or pedal by which it may be rocked. Since it is desirable that the jarring of the machine shall not rotate the lamp, mount the horizontal shaft. in bearings from which it may be readily removed and the friction of which on the shaft may be adjusted. These bearings of the horizontal shaft are screwed or bolted to the floor or fOUlZlHHlI'tl of the vehicle, and by removing the shaft from its bearings the upright shaft and lamp may be turned on the pivotal connection near its upper end, so that ready access may be had to the parts of the 1 machine beneath the floor or at the front end of the automobile.

Another feature of my device is the adinstability of the support for the upper end of the casing encircling the upright shaft so as to adapt it for use in vclucles of widelydifferent t vpes Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of my mvcntion is illustrated, Figure l is a rear elevation of iny-dirigible lantern and actuating Speeifieation of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 12,

1906. semiioeos ea.

mechanism, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a Patented March 26,1307.

{side elevation of thedevice, also partlyiin section. Fig. 3 is a plan of the support for the upper end of the vertical shaft, Fig, 4 is a section on the line i 4 of Fig. 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

5 for the horizontal shaft, and Fig. (iisa side elevation of the same. i g

The lantern or search-light isniounted on the two spaced arms 11 11, having peror by means of lugs 12 12, to which it ispivoted, as is most clearly shown in Fig. l. The l bent arms 11 are secured on the upper end of a vertical shaft 13 and are held by the nut 14, l i tate or rock therewith. A stationary cylindrical casing 15 encircles the shaft, and-beween the two, at their top and bottom'em'ls, are the ball-bearings 16 to facilitate theturning of the shaft. equipped with a gear 17, whose teeth mesh horizontal shaft 19 by neans of a set-screw 20. At one end of shaft 19 is providedthe a toe--clip 21".

Near its u per end casing 15 has. a split ring 22 encirc ing it, which is firmly clamped to the casing by means of the screw or bolt 23. At its inner end ring 22 is pivotullv mounted on a bolt 24, supported on a bracket 25, which is adjustable longitudinally of three rods 26, .27, and 28, which at their other ends are bolted to the dashboard or other con venient support. The end of theiuclinenl supporting rod or brace 26 fits in the aperture 29 of bracket 25, being held in position by a setscrew 30, hearing against the same. A block l 31, recessed at. 32 ,is adapted to lit over the ends of the horizontal diverging rods 28 and l 29, which lie in the recesses 33 of the bracket l and is clamped thereto by a screw 34.

means of this construction the upper end of shaft 13 and its i closing casing 15 may be i adjusted to some extent, so as to bring itin I proper verticul posillon. Since types of vehicles of hich this lantern-directing means is adapted to be attached vary grcatl in construct ion, an assortment of rods 26, 27, and fix, varied in length, may be kept I in stock to be adapted for use. in these differcnl vehicles.

5 Brackets 35, secured to the velii(-lelloo|' lor to a foot-board, two of which are illuswith those of a gear-segment 18, fixed on a.

different Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the bearings v forated ears fitting over the ends ofthe arms.

screwed. on the end of the shaft, so as to. ro-

At its lower end shaft13 is foot-treadle or pedal 21, having atits top end "horizontal shaft 19, and each is provi ed with "a hinged cap or cover 36, pivoted at37, which is adapted to be opened or moved downwardly, thereby permitting the removal of the shaft. Each bearing 35 and cap 36 has an extension 38 and 39, respectively, to the former of which is pivoted a screw 40, on the end of which is threaded a thumb-nut 41.

This screw 40 normally passes through a slot, shown in Fig, 5, in. the top 36 of thebearing on which the nut is screwed down to produce the re er amount of friction to prevent the s ai from turning unintentionally. When it is desired to remove the shaft in on der to get et'the machine below the floor or to other parts of the vehicle, each nut i1 is loosened-and the pivotescrew moved out of the slot, seas to free the cap, which is turned on its pivot 37, thus opening u? the bearing and permittin the shaft to ie taken out. Mounted on t is shaft is also a sleeve 42, which fits over the casing 15, as is shown in F ig's. 1 and 2, and when shaft 19 is removed from its hearings to inspect the mechanism below the floor this sleeve is also moved, so

that the shaft 13, casingklS, and ihntern 10 are turned on the pivot-bolt 24. After the inspection or repairs have been effected the horizontal shaft may be readily replacedin thebearings, thus bringing the upright shaft again into vertical and operative position.

The details of this structure as described, above and shown in the accompanying drawings Ina be modified greatly without departing m the substance of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of an upright rotatable shaft adapted ,to be secured to a vehicle and to turn a lantern, a horizontal shaft, means connectin said horizontal and upright shaft whereby t e rotation of the former is trans mitted to thelatter, one or more bearings for said horizontal shaft, ca'is for said bean ings contacting with said shaft, screwthreaded means for regulating the friction of said caps on said horizontal shaft, and a treadle on said horizontal. shaft whereby the latter may he turned by the foot, substantially as described.

2. In it device of the cijiaracterdescribed, the combination of an upright rotatable shaft adapted to turn a lantern, a support for said shaft to which the latter is hinged, a second support for said shaft from which thelatter is detachable whereby the shaft may be turned on said hinge, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of an upright rotatabie shaft adapted to support and turn a lantern, a suport for said shaft with which the latter has a iinged connection, a horizontal shaft, means connecting said horizontal and upright shafts whereby the rotation of the former is transmitted to the latter, one or more bearings for said horizontal. shaft from which said shwft may be readily removed, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, an

adjustable sup o t for a shaft com I rising a bracket, said siaft heving a hingec connec- FRED O. LYON.

Witnesses @Li'nn R. LYON,

J. E. 'WILLIs. 

